Clemson University

Clemson's history dates back to 1889, when it was founded as an agricultural college. Today, it's a major public research university, and while agricultural science continues to be one of the school's specialties, ag students are outnumbered by those studying engineering or business. The school offers about 80 undergraduate majors and 110 graduate degree programs. The school's International Center for Automotive Research, which attracts students from over 15 countries, is a top learning institution devoted to research and innovation in carmaking. A majority of Clemson's some 18,600 undergrads and 4,500 grad students hail from the Southeast and hold fairly conservative political views. What seems to unite just about everybody is an enormous amount of pride in their school and especially its football team, the Tigers. During football season, undergrads and locals alike dress in orange and follow the paw prints on the roads that lead into campus. For students looking for activities other than football, there are many teams, clubs, and organizations to join, from Greek life (a fifth of the student body participates) to the school's Lindy Hoppers (it's an old-timey dance) to the Dixie Skydivers. Outdoorsy students can take advantage of the beautiful climate to play golf, hike, bike, or enjoy nearby Lake Hartwell. Clemson's graduation rate is slightly higher than that of schools with similar student demographics, and recent graduates bring in salaries about 3% higher than graduates of similar colleges, according to MONEY's calculations.